In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic response of the seeds of Amomum subulatum roxb and Vitex negundo

Abstract The current study was designed to check the anthelmintic activities of some local plants. Seeds of Amomum (A.) subulatum and Vitex (V.) negundo in different solvents were subjected to in vitro (adult motility assay; AMA and egg hatch assay; EHA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) anthelmintic activity testing protocols using Haemonchus (H.) contortus as an experimental model. The results of AMA, EHA, and FECRT were statistically analysed through linear regression and Duncan multiple range test. In AMA test, at 50 mg mL-1 concentration, the percent mortality of H. contortus was higher in A. subulatum than V. negundo, whereas, in EHA test, A. subulatum was proven better ovicidal (LC50=14.2 µg mL-1) than V. negundo (LC50= 65.7405 µg mL-1). The FECRT also indicated the better efficacy of A. subulatum than V. negundo against natural infection of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. The crude powder of plants used in this study showed 29.6% to 57.7% anthelmintic. The reduction rate was found higher for A. subulatum (3 g kg-1) as compared to V. negundo (7 g kg-1). Reagrding efficacy analysis of solvents used for plants extract, ethyl acetate and chloroform were found better in increasing ovicidal activity in adult worms (in vitro testing), whereas, the crude aqueous methanol was found better than the crude powders in in vivo testing. It will be beneficial to document the indigenous knowledge to standard scientific procedures for their validation. This study will help to motivate the farmers to make a better choice of cultivation of the indigenous plants because of their varying efficacies as an alternative preventive approach against the GI parasitic infections.

Clinico-pathological assessment of virulent Newcastle Disease Virus in ducks

Abstract Newcastle disease (ND) is an infectious, highly contagious and lethal disease of avian species. It is considered that ducks are natural reservoir or carrier for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and are resistant against different strains of NDV. Current study was designed to evaluate the pathogenesis of Newcastle disease in domestic ducks through histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serum biochemical changes. For this purpose, eighty ducks were reared for 42 days and divided in two groups A and B. Ducks in group A were challenged with (NDV) at rate of 0.1 ml of ELD50 (virus titer 107.32/100µl) on second week of age, whereas Group B was control negative. Splenomegaly, atrophy of thymus and necrotic lesion in kidney were observed on 9th day of post infection. Hepatic degeneration and mononuclear cell infiltration were noticed in proventriculus and intestine in challenged ducks. Viral antigen detected in lungs, intestine, proventriculus and lymphoid organs of infected ducks through IHC. Albumin and total protein values were significantly low in infected groups A as compared to control group B. ALT, AST, and ALP values were significantly high in infected group A. On 5th and 7th day of post infection oropharyngeal swabs were negative for NDV and cloacal swabs were positive for NDV through Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. It is concluded that ducks are susceptible to NDV and virulent strain of NDV caused disease in ducks.

Prevalence of Ruminant Paramphistomosis and Comparative Histopathology of the Infected Rumens in Narowal District, Punjab, Pakistan

The present study reports the prevalence of Paramphistomum spp. in small and large ruminants and their association with the histopathology of the infected rumens. A total of 384 animals were screened for Paramphistomum spp. The animals found positive for Paramphistomum spp. were divided into three groups according to the worm load/5 cm2 (G1: 10 - 20 worms/5 cm2 = Low, G2: 20 - 40 worms/5 cm2 = Medium, and G3: >41 worms/5 cm2 = High). Tissue slides were prepared from samples of the rumen (1 cm2) taken from animals positive for ruminal fluke to determine the histological parameters, including epithelial length or thickness, length and width of the ruminal papilla, and thickness of tunica submucosa and mucularis externae. The overall prevalence of Paramphistomum spp. in the ruminant population of district Narowal was 56.25 % with a significant (P < 0.05) variation among different species of ruminants. The highest prevalence was in cattle, followed in order by buffalo, goat, and sheep. Epithelium thickness was significantly correlated with parasite load in large ruminants and the most significant (P < 0.05) decrease in epithelium thickness was in Group B (31.12 ± 1.82 μm) and Group C (31.07 ± 1.68 μm) and a same trend was recorded in small ruminants. Histopathological changes due to Paramphistomum spp. are reported for the first time, which explained the histomorphological and physiological changes in Paramphistomum-infected rumens which might be associated with lowered feed efficiency and productivity in ruminants.